Autumn Colours: Base and Accent Palettes for the Colder Months

In 2014 we rocked mustard yellows, and in 2015 it was all about neutral tones with an increase in texture. As we enter the Autumn this year, though, colour palettes are about to get a whole lot moodier – and I personally couldn’t be happier about it.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I adore Autumn. I’m pretty certain that the rest of the country is in a state of depression that summer is over, but not me. I live for this moment, each year, where I can get out the jackets and scarves, pour myself a red wine, indulge in at least 5kg more chocolate and park myself on the couch for a Project Runway marathon (covered in a faux fur throw and a cat, of course).

One of the other things I adore about this time of year is the chance to jazz up my space with Autumn colours to reflect the change in weather. I’m a true believer in updating your interior and decor with the seasons (and here’s why), so I’m very excited to be sharing with you some gorgeous new colour palettes for Autumn/Winter 2016.

Autumn Colours: The Base Palette

When it comes to the base palette in homes over the next six months, I’d like us all to go grey gracefully. Now, I know that I’ve said it before, but I have to say it again; grey is the new beige. I can’t get enough of exploring the full spectrum of gorgeous grey tones when it comes to interiors, and I love that this colour is neutral enough that it works with so many other tones on top.

If you’re going to consider painting your walls grey (more on that here) I also love how different pockets will look darker and lighter depending on the time of day. Grey paint has a real depth to it… and I cannot recommend it enough.

The reason I’m especially fond of grey in Autumn is that it brings with it such a moodiness. Especially if you take it in a slightly darker direction, it evokes such emotive and inviting imagery for me; lighting a scented candle (musky, earthy tones in the cooler months), enjoying a big mug of tea and listening to the rain on the rooftop. I’m in my element!

Of course, if you’re thinking… sorry Chris, I aint ever going to paint my walls grey… there’s no need to shut down this post just yet. You can still rock trending Autumn colours if your walls are beige, white or brown. I just recommend bringing in some dark grey throws and other accessories to help make the room feel resolved. You really can’t go past a grey faux fur throw in a scenario like this; it plays well with just about any interior scheme.

“Proportion is a big thing to keep in mind here. We’re not introducing reds and oranges in large scale. It’s more a 80/20 split.”

This year we’re exploring accent colours in the red to orange spectrum. One of the main reasons for this is that both colours are warm colours, so as the weather gets colder outside, it makes perfect sense to bring in some hotter tones to make our home feel cosier.

It’s important to understand though, that we really are exploring every tone in the red to orange scale. There are not just two colour options here. Explore all reds like crimson, scarlet, rose, maroon etc, and ensure you look for oranges in different tones too; apricot, ginger, bronze, terracotta and more.

In fact, on the topic of bronze, metallics are a great way to bring in some of these warm tones if you’re feeling wary of bringing in such vivid colours. As are woods in mid to dark tones – especially if the grain is on show. Obviously layering up texture is important here too, but texture is a whole other story and I’d like to keep the focus here on colour.

Proportion is a big thing to keep in mind here. We’re not introducing reds and oranges in large scale. It’s more a 80/20 split. 80 being your greys or other base neutrals, and the 20 being your accent tones (read more on how to get the split right here).

In this instance, consider orange and red details in bedding, towels, ornaments, cushions, throws, lampshades, tableware and more. You don’t have to go for block colours, either. Try a patterned scenario where red and orange features in small doses.

Are you on board with these Autumn colours? I’d love to hear about the colours you’re using at home in the colder months. Drop a comment below and share.

Outside of writing the TLC Interiors blog, Chris is an interior stylist and author. You can also catch him on your TV screens as a designer on Channel 10's Changing Rooms. If you'd like to book a design consult with Chris, you can find out more here